Police arrest man at mall, recover pipe, cocaine in car

Police Blotter

A man who was seen tampering with cash registers at the J. C. Penney store in Marley Station mall was arrested on drug charges after police found crack cocaine in his car.

County police said Michael Gabriel Pantelis, 33, of the first block of Greenmeadow Drive in Timonium was charged Thursday with possession of crack cocaine.

J. C. Penney security guard Randy Easter said he saw a man tampering with a cash register about 8: 30 p.m. Thursday and followed him outside as he walked toward a red Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Officers Peter Scarpetta and Keith Light, who were listening to the store security radio frequency, drove to the mall to assist the guard and saw the car leaving the lot. Noting that the vehicle had no front license tag, they stopped it, police said.

Scarpetta asked the man for his license, and as police spoke with him, they noticed his speech was slurred and eyes were glassy, but they could not smell any alcohol, the officers said. Light asked the man if he had been using drugs, then obtained his consent to search the car, police said.

Under the driver's seat, a small bag of crack cocaine was found, according to police. In arresting and searching the suspect, they found another bag of the drug, a glass pipe and $239 -- all of which were seized along with the car, police said.

Police Blotter

East county

Pasadena: Someone broke into a 1997 Toyota Camry in the 8000 block of Corkberry Lane between 12: 15 a.m. and 6: 30 a.m. Thursday and stole $200, sunglasses, a gym bag and a Walkman.

Pasadena: An address book with $200, a deposit slip and a video card were stolen between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday by someone who broke into a 1995 Chevy Lumina parked in the 8100 block of Ritchie Highway.

South county

Davidsonville: Lumber valued at $2,700 was reported stolen from a home under construction in the 2500 block of Howard Grove Road overnight Tuesday.

Highland Beach: Someone broke into a home in the 1200 block of Drogue Drive Tuesday or Wednesday and stole a briefcase valued at $100.